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Thirteen
A discovered conspiracy. A ransom gone wrong. A two-month coma.
Spoiled Iranian girl Neda awakes to find her parents dead—a tragic murder at the hands of her now-executed fiancé. But Neda saw the perpetrators, and he wasn’t one of them.
The justice system dismisses her. Evidence mysteriously vanishes. And when others begin to die, she knows her own life could end just as brutally at any moment. All it will take is her enemies catching up—or her suicidal tendencies taking control. When her losses become all-consuming, there is one way forward: turn the tables and finally get revenge.
When the only option is to kill or be killed, one thing is clear: this war will end in blood.
Spoiled Iranian girl Neda awakes to find her parents dead—a tragic murder at the hands of her now-executed fiancé. But Neda saw the perpetrators, and he wasn’t one of them.
The justice system dismisses her. Evidence mysteriously vanishes. And when others begin to die, she knows her own life could end just as brutally at any moment. All it will take is her enemies catching up—or her suicidal tendencies taking control. When her losses become all-consuming, there is one way forward: turn the tables and finally get revenge.
When the only option is to kill or be killed, one thing is clear: this war will end in blood.
464 pages, Paperback
Published October 12, 2024
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 11, 2025
This is book that deserves a lot more attention.
This is a relatively slow burn build up with a twist, the story is not told in a linear fashion, with the events taking place at various points in Neda's timeline, and in this instance, it works so well to help mask key information helping really drive home the events that she has gone through.
Neda herself is a young woman living in Iran, from a fairly prosperous family, however after being shot, she wakes up from a coma to discover her parents are dead and her fiancé executed for their murder.
Except she knows he did not do it. Starting off as a quest for justice, we slowly see Neda change, and the need for justice is lost and instead we have a quest for vengeance, and this does an excellent job of using Neda's point of view in such a way that we simply cannot rely on her vision of events due to the levels of trauma she has gone through and the denial that she is suffering from.
This novel dives into political corruption, the dangers of fundamentalism, as well as human rights abuses that sadly are going in still in some places.
This book is powerful, eye opening, and effecting in the extreme. Not my normal read, but I am so glad I read it.
Massive thanks to WhatAimeeReads for putting me onto this one!
This is a relatively slow burn build up with a twist, the story is not told in a linear fashion, with the events taking place at various points in Neda's timeline, and in this instance, it works so well to help mask key information helping really drive home the events that she has gone through.
Neda herself is a young woman living in Iran, from a fairly prosperous family, however after being shot, she wakes up from a coma to discover her parents are dead and her fiancé executed for their murder.
Except she knows he did not do it. Starting off as a quest for justice, we slowly see Neda change, and the need for justice is lost and instead we have a quest for vengeance, and this does an excellent job of using Neda's point of view in such a way that we simply cannot rely on her vision of events due to the levels of trauma she has gone through and the denial that she is suffering from.
This novel dives into political corruption, the dangers of fundamentalism, as well as human rights abuses that sadly are going in still in some places.
This book is powerful, eye opening, and effecting in the extreme. Not my normal read, but I am so glad I read it.
Massive thanks to WhatAimeeReads for putting me onto this one!
October 8, 2024
“What would you do if someone took away everything you cared about?”
This is a dual POV thriller which follows Neda and Omid’s journey as Neda seeks revenge for the death of her parents and fiance. When the judiciary system dismisses Neda’s concerns, she takes it upon herself to find those responsible for the murder of her loved ones. This is a tale of revenge which tests how far someone will go when they have nothing left to lose.
As Neda seeks revenge, she discovers a web of lies and deception. With just her journal to confide in, can Neda save herself or will her journey for revenge go too far?
Thirteen is filled with great descriptions which immerse you in the moment and pull at your emotions. The style of narration was different to what I’m used to, but it helped to build tension as Neda told her story. This is a story that will walk you through a range of emotions and leave you open-mouthed by the end.
Thank you to the author for an ARC. All thoughts are my own.
This is a dual POV thriller which follows Neda and Omid’s journey as Neda seeks revenge for the death of her parents and fiance. When the judiciary system dismisses Neda’s concerns, she takes it upon herself to find those responsible for the murder of her loved ones. This is a tale of revenge which tests how far someone will go when they have nothing left to lose.
As Neda seeks revenge, she discovers a web of lies and deception. With just her journal to confide in, can Neda save herself or will her journey for revenge go too far?
Thirteen is filled with great descriptions which immerse you in the moment and pull at your emotions. The style of narration was different to what I’m used to, but it helped to build tension as Neda told her story. This is a story that will walk you through a range of emotions and leave you open-mouthed by the end.
Thank you to the author for an ARC. All thoughts are my own.
May 20, 2025
If I'm honest, I don't even know where to begin with this review. Thirteen has been living rent-free in my mind ever since I finished it a few weeks ago. It's not the kind of book that simply you read, move to the side and forget about it, it's definitely one that stays with you. When I turned the final page, I cried. I actually blubbed like a baby. Overly sensitive? Who cares? But mainly, I would honestly say I was invested. However, this just shows the depth of it's impact. It was a full-blown emotional rollercoaster, and I still haven't recovered.
Myself and Ven (A booktuber - I shall link his YouTube at the end of the review) chose this as a buddy read, and I'm so glad we did. Thirteen hasn't received the attention it deserves, truthfully. It's a disservice to readers and the literary world alike, that this book hasn't reached as many people as I would have liked already. This novel is honestly a hidden gem that is riddled in emotional complexity, cultural differences and a narrative structure that completely breaks away from the conventional mold of literary fiction/thrillers. It unfolds through three interwoven timelines, dancing between past and present like pieces of a puzzle coming together. What struck me the most was thinking that you'd see the twists coming, until it's hits you. I was second guessing everything, and when yet another twist came I was wrecked.
At the heart of the novel we see the FMC, Neda. A young woman from a seemingly wealthy family in Iran who wakes up from a coma only to find her world in ruins, her parents are dead and she learns that her fiancé has been executed for being found guilty for their murder. Obviously, Neda knows this isn't true, and she's hellbent on finding justice for their deaths and the truth hidden behind the reason. What begins as a desperate search for the truth quickly unravels into something much more darker, a transformation from a grief-stricken daughter/partner to a woman utterly consumed by vengeance. Her evolution is electrifying. The diary-style first person narration (complete with an Iranian calendar) adds a layer of familiarity that makes you feel like you're living inside her head. Her own voice is raw, intelligent, increasingly defiant, yet naive and annoying all at the same time, which again, is quite unusual for a FMC.
"Some people are born happy. Some pursue happiness their entire lives and don't find it. Others keep redefining it until it fits their status quo. Me? I don't aspire to happiness. A little less than two years ago, fate played a sick joke on my life. Since then, my hopes, my dreams, my existence, have been reduced to one goal, finding the man of my nightmares. Buckle up, for this will be a rough ride."
I had to google a few cultural references and terms, yet it only deepened my appreciation for how deeply embedded the story is in its settings and how committed the author is to authenticity. This book does NOT flinch. It tackles a multitude of harrowing topics such as suicide, political corruption, state violence, mental illness, societal shame. Yet through it all it never becomes repetitive, instead just portrays a powerful story of injustice told through the lens of deeply human characters.
Neda's relationship with Omid, the man who seems to be stuck with her without his own say so, seems innocent, yet also desperately wanting the best for her. Their friendship adds further emotional complexity, as their dynamic isn't one of romance, it's messy, codependent and real. Their mental states affect each other quite deeply, and the way the novel navigates both Neda's and Omid's point of views is both beautiful, yet gut-wrenching.
The supporting cast were equally as important, I won't delve too much into this as it will ruin the novel and the premise. Parvaneh, Neda's friend and also Dr Derakhshan her psychiatrist, each one offered a different reflection of Neda's personality, and we see how her identity fractures and reforms under different types of pressure. Every interaction is loaded with meaning, and every silence is carefully chosen.
Poetry is scattered throughout the book, Neda's poems serve as emotional release, but they are also showcases of the authors range of work. These aren't just filler passages, their stunning in their own right as they are seamlessly woven into the prose and echoes the themes of grief, and defiance. I'm not much of a reader of poetry, however, this was an amazing touch.
The book does come with numerous trigger warnings which can be found on his website, and rightly so, as I have once mentioned. For me as a reader, the more the better (oops) and that's the part, that makes it so brave. The author does not shy away from the true brutalities of the world, instead dives headfirst into them, trusting the reader to follow. It is a risk, I'm not going to lie, however. it's one that pays off well.
So in short, Thirteen is brilliantly constructed, emotionally harrowing and bold. I genuinely believe this book will be underrated forever, and I find it devastating because it deserves to be shouted about, and celebrated. It's a novel that challenges, enlightens and devastates all at once.
Myself and Ven (A booktuber - I shall link his YouTube at the end of the review) chose this as a buddy read, and I'm so glad we did. Thirteen hasn't received the attention it deserves, truthfully. It's a disservice to readers and the literary world alike, that this book hasn't reached as many people as I would have liked already. This novel is honestly a hidden gem that is riddled in emotional complexity, cultural differences and a narrative structure that completely breaks away from the conventional mold of literary fiction/thrillers. It unfolds through three interwoven timelines, dancing between past and present like pieces of a puzzle coming together. What struck me the most was thinking that you'd see the twists coming, until it's hits you. I was second guessing everything, and when yet another twist came I was wrecked.
At the heart of the novel we see the FMC, Neda. A young woman from a seemingly wealthy family in Iran who wakes up from a coma only to find her world in ruins, her parents are dead and she learns that her fiancé has been executed for being found guilty for their murder. Obviously, Neda knows this isn't true, and she's hellbent on finding justice for their deaths and the truth hidden behind the reason. What begins as a desperate search for the truth quickly unravels into something much more darker, a transformation from a grief-stricken daughter/partner to a woman utterly consumed by vengeance. Her evolution is electrifying. The diary-style first person narration (complete with an Iranian calendar) adds a layer of familiarity that makes you feel like you're living inside her head. Her own voice is raw, intelligent, increasingly defiant, yet naive and annoying all at the same time, which again, is quite unusual for a FMC.
"Some people are born happy. Some pursue happiness their entire lives and don't find it. Others keep redefining it until it fits their status quo. Me? I don't aspire to happiness. A little less than two years ago, fate played a sick joke on my life. Since then, my hopes, my dreams, my existence, have been reduced to one goal, finding the man of my nightmares. Buckle up, for this will be a rough ride."
I had to google a few cultural references and terms, yet it only deepened my appreciation for how deeply embedded the story is in its settings and how committed the author is to authenticity. This book does NOT flinch. It tackles a multitude of harrowing topics such as suicide, political corruption, state violence, mental illness, societal shame. Yet through it all it never becomes repetitive, instead just portrays a powerful story of injustice told through the lens of deeply human characters.
Neda's relationship with Omid, the man who seems to be stuck with her without his own say so, seems innocent, yet also desperately wanting the best for her. Their friendship adds further emotional complexity, as their dynamic isn't one of romance, it's messy, codependent and real. Their mental states affect each other quite deeply, and the way the novel navigates both Neda's and Omid's point of views is both beautiful, yet gut-wrenching.
The supporting cast were equally as important, I won't delve too much into this as it will ruin the novel and the premise. Parvaneh, Neda's friend and also Dr Derakhshan her psychiatrist, each one offered a different reflection of Neda's personality, and we see how her identity fractures and reforms under different types of pressure. Every interaction is loaded with meaning, and every silence is carefully chosen.
Poetry is scattered throughout the book, Neda's poems serve as emotional release, but they are also showcases of the authors range of work. These aren't just filler passages, their stunning in their own right as they are seamlessly woven into the prose and echoes the themes of grief, and defiance. I'm not much of a reader of poetry, however, this was an amazing touch.
The book does come with numerous trigger warnings which can be found on his website, and rightly so, as I have once mentioned. For me as a reader, the more the better (oops) and that's the part, that makes it so brave. The author does not shy away from the true brutalities of the world, instead dives headfirst into them, trusting the reader to follow. It is a risk, I'm not going to lie, however. it's one that pays off well.
So in short, Thirteen is brilliantly constructed, emotionally harrowing and bold. I genuinely believe this book will be underrated forever, and I find it devastating because it deserves to be shouted about, and celebrated. It's a novel that challenges, enlightens and devastates all at once.
September 5, 2024
I wish to kindly thank the author for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!
If there is one thing that impressed me while reading this thriller, it's the fact that the author truly wants to walk the walk and not just talk the talk. He is constantly championing for human rights in his birth country, and these political viewpoints have seeped into this book, which only made the book shine even more.
This is the first time I have ever read a book that was written by an Iranian author, so it was going to become an eye-opening cultural experience. Most Iranians are practising muslims, but Farsi is linguistically very different from Arabic as far as I know. Is everyone mildly familiar with conversational Arabic? Or only certain segments of the population? How is the legal system organized regarding inheritance for female citizens? In a country under sanctions for so many decades, what is the healthcare system like? Is it forbidden for a woman to shake the hand of a close friend's father?
While this book doesn't entirely answer all of these questions, we do get glimpses of life for upper middle class Iranians whose worldview is very cosmopolitan. One thing that will startle readers early in this book is how the story is not linear, but it twists various timelines and scrambles the story in disorder. The reader is thrown rather chaotically into the rear seat of a car while a young male Iranian named Omid is reluctantly driving his traumatized female friend Neda to the airport. Her behavior is clear signs she suffered through a traumatic experience, but we don't know much else. The few snippets we get is Omid at least tries to be supportive even when he doesn't quite understand Neda. For a book that is purposely shifting the story around, I believe choosing to begin in this specific scene was ingenious.
If the book had been more linear, readers might assume Neda's fairytale life as an upper middle class daughter of a construction businessman from Tehran was vain and would probably toss the book away. By rearranging the story where Neda's quest for revenge begins, the reader is thrown into the action early on, while getting glimpses of what drove Neda to this point. As the story advances, the reader is already getting hints what (or better yet who) has pulled the strings from the background to assist Neda with ridiculous ease. The reader knows early on that Neda is quite gullible. Even through the tribulations of her tragedy, she never could shake off her pampered upbringing. If she had kept her eyes a bit more open, chances are she would have discovered the likely culprit. I don't wish to mention more about this because I risk spoiling the great AHA! moment.
After causing, well, quite a stir in Dubai, the reader is now granted access to Neda's picture perfect life as a college student, her father's money woes, and the despair befalling one of her close friends. This series of unfortunate events starts chipping away from the veneer of Neda's prior life intermixed with chapters of the aftermath where she is suicidal, depressed, angry, and causing constant strain with one of her female friends. The mastery of decipting depression is handelled with extreme care and the reader feels both a sense of pity for Neda's plight, all the while navigating the added hurdles of dealing with violent police and corruption.
Explaining the book much further risks spoiling the surprise in the story. Despite the occasionally very dark themes in this book, Neda is a strong willed woman who isn't afraid of picking up the tattered ruins of her life and gets to dictate what or how she will get things done. If embarking on a voyage of revenge against the men that wronged her will cause her demise, then so be it. Maybe we all have a little spark of Neda hiding deep inside of us.
Thirteen is a great read and I openly encourage readers to give it a shot and root for Neda just like I did!
If there is one thing that impressed me while reading this thriller, it's the fact that the author truly wants to walk the walk and not just talk the talk. He is constantly championing for human rights in his birth country, and these political viewpoints have seeped into this book, which only made the book shine even more.
This is the first time I have ever read a book that was written by an Iranian author, so it was going to become an eye-opening cultural experience. Most Iranians are practising muslims, but Farsi is linguistically very different from Arabic as far as I know. Is everyone mildly familiar with conversational Arabic? Or only certain segments of the population? How is the legal system organized regarding inheritance for female citizens? In a country under sanctions for so many decades, what is the healthcare system like? Is it forbidden for a woman to shake the hand of a close friend's father?
While this book doesn't entirely answer all of these questions, we do get glimpses of life for upper middle class Iranians whose worldview is very cosmopolitan. One thing that will startle readers early in this book is how the story is not linear, but it twists various timelines and scrambles the story in disorder. The reader is thrown rather chaotically into the rear seat of a car while a young male Iranian named Omid is reluctantly driving his traumatized female friend Neda to the airport. Her behavior is clear signs she suffered through a traumatic experience, but we don't know much else. The few snippets we get is Omid at least tries to be supportive even when he doesn't quite understand Neda. For a book that is purposely shifting the story around, I believe choosing to begin in this specific scene was ingenious.
If the book had been more linear, readers might assume Neda's fairytale life as an upper middle class daughter of a construction businessman from Tehran was vain and would probably toss the book away. By rearranging the story where Neda's quest for revenge begins, the reader is thrown into the action early on, while getting glimpses of what drove Neda to this point. As the story advances, the reader is already getting hints what (or better yet who) has pulled the strings from the background to assist Neda with ridiculous ease. The reader knows early on that Neda is quite gullible. Even through the tribulations of her tragedy, she never could shake off her pampered upbringing. If she had kept her eyes a bit more open, chances are she would have discovered the likely culprit. I don't wish to mention more about this because I risk spoiling the great AHA! moment.
After causing, well, quite a stir in Dubai, the reader is now granted access to Neda's picture perfect life as a college student, her father's money woes, and the despair befalling one of her close friends. This series of unfortunate events starts chipping away from the veneer of Neda's prior life intermixed with chapters of the aftermath where she is suicidal, depressed, angry, and causing constant strain with one of her female friends. The mastery of decipting depression is handelled with extreme care and the reader feels both a sense of pity for Neda's plight, all the while navigating the added hurdles of dealing with violent police and corruption.
Explaining the book much further risks spoiling the surprise in the story. Despite the occasionally very dark themes in this book, Neda is a strong willed woman who isn't afraid of picking up the tattered ruins of her life and gets to dictate what or how she will get things done. If embarking on a voyage of revenge against the men that wronged her will cause her demise, then so be it. Maybe we all have a little spark of Neda hiding deep inside of us.
Thirteen is a great read and I openly encourage readers to give it a shot and root for Neda just like I did!
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